Caladium plant named ‘Rosemary’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Rosemary’, characterized by its intermediate plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; rapid growth rate; and strap-type leaves that are rose red in color in the center with mottled light and dark green-colored borders.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ROSEMARY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a strap leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Rosemary’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium cultivars that have uniform plant habit, exceptional performance and attractive foliage coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2001, in Lake Placid, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wing’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘Florida Red Ruffles’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,136, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. on Jun. 15, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by tuber divisions in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. since Apr. 15, 2003 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Rosemary’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Rosemary’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium:

-   -   1. Intermediate plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous and dense growth habit; rapid growth rate.     -   3. Strap-type leaves that are rose red in color in the center         with mottled light and dark green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium differ from plants of the female parent, ‘White Wing’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘White         Wing’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Wing’ differ in leaf         coloration as plants of ‘White Wing’ have white-colored leaves         with mottled dark and light green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium differ from plants of the male parent, ‘Florida Red Ruffles’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of         ‘Florida Red Ruffles’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium are more upright than plants of         ‘Florida Red Ruffles’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Red Ruffles’ differ         in leaf coloration as plants of ‘Florida Red Ruffles’ have         red-colored leaves with green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’, disclosed in U. S. Plant Pat. No. 8,526. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1 . Plants of the new Caladium were faster growing than plants         of ‘Florida Sweetheart’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ differed         in leaf coloration as plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ had         pink-colored leaves with creamy white to green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of ‘Red Frills’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Red Frills’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were more upright than plants of         ‘Red Frills’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium were more rounded than         and not as pointed as leaves of plants of ‘Red Frills’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Red Frills’ differed in leaf         coloration as plants of ‘Red Frills’ had red-colored leaves with         dark green-colored borders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Rosemary’ grown in a container in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Rosemary’ (top center), ‘Red Frills’ (left) and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ (right) grown in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Rosemary’ (top center), ‘White Wing’ (left) and ‘Florida Red Ruffles’ (right) grown in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a top perspective view of typical plants of ‘Rosemary’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-dug tubers and roots of ‘Rosemary’.

The photograph on the fourth sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Rosemary’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Avon Park, Fla. during the spring in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse and plants grown in ground beds in Zolfo Springs, Fla. during the late summer in an outdoor nursery. All plants were grown under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Caladium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 26° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoor nursery). Plants had been growing in the shadehouse for nine weeks from planting tubers when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. Plants had been growing in the outdoor nursery for seven months from planting tuber pieces when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Rosemary’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wing’,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Florida Red             Ruffles’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,136. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tubers and by tuber divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             oval to rounded in shape. Height: About 3.3 cm. Diameter:             About 4.6 cm. Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle.             Color: Epidermis, between 199D, 161D and 158B, with             development, close to 200A to 200B; interior, between 155A             to 2D. Root description: Dense, thick, fleshy; white, close             to 155C, in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright and intermediate plant habit;             inverted triangle; rapid growth rate; vigorous, dense growth             habit; suitable for 15-cm to 25-cm containers. Leaf petioles             arising from tubers; petioles mostly upright and leaning             outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane,             shadehouse-grown plants.—About 23 cm to 27 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown plants.—About 31.5cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown plants.—About 42             cm to 47 cm.         -   Cataphylls (only observed on shadehouse-grown             plants).—Length: About 4 cm to 8 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm to             2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Sheathing the             stem. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to N170D tinged             with close to 147A and variably streaked with close to 147C             tinged with close to 200C; with development, color becoming             closer to 200A to 200D and may be variably stained with             close to 187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Length, shadehouse-grown plants.—About 12.5 cm to 17.5 cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown plants (flattened).—About 7 cm to 11             cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate to acute.         -   Base.—Sagittate to cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown plants.—Developing leaves, upper             surface: Center: Close to 60B; towards the borders, sectors             of N186C; basal notch, close to 60A. Border and margins:             Mottled, close to 146C to 146D; or close to 146D tinged with             close to N186C; or close to 147C to 147D; or close to 147C             to 147D tinged with close to N186C; or between N189A to             147A. Venation: Midrib and lateral veins, close to 60A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Center: Close to 59D.             Border and margins: Close to 148D or between 147B and N138B.             Venation: Midrib, close to 181C to 181D; lateral veins,             close to 182B to 182C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Center: Close to 60B; towards the borders, sectors of N186C;             basal notch, close to 60A. Border and margins: Mottled,             between N189A and 147A with occasional flecking, close to             146C to 146D. Venation: Midrib and lateral veins, between             53A to 60A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Center:             Close to 59B to 59C; towards the borders, sectors of between             148A to 147A. Border and margins: Close to between 147A and             N189B. Venation: Midrib, between 181C and 182B; lateral             veins, close to 182B to 182C.         -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect, leaning outwardly with             development. Length, shadehouse-grown plants: About 17.5 to             21 cm. Diameter, distal, shadehouse-grown plants: About 3 mm             to 4 mm. Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown plants: About             6 mm to 9 mm. Color, proximal, shadehouse-grown plants:             Close to N170D tinged with close to 147A and densely             streaked with close to 200C tinged with close to 147A;             variably and boldly striped with close to 200A. Color,             distal, shadehouse-grown plants: Close to N170D tinged with             close to 183D and 182D and densely streaked with close to             200C tinged with close to 147A; variably and boldly striped             with close to 200A. Wing length, shadehouse-grown plants:             About 4 cm to 8 cm. Wing diameter, shadehouse-grown plants:             About 7 mm to 10 mm. Wing color, shadehouse-grown plants:             Close to N170D tinged with close to 147A and variably             streaked with 147C tinged with close to 200C. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences only observed on     shadehouse-grown plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape.             Spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones. Female flowers arranged on the             lower one-third of the spadix; male flowers arranged on the             upper two-thirds of the spadix. Sterile flowers develop             between female and male flower zones; near this area, the             spathe constricts surrounding the female flowers.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season/longevity.—Plants of the new             Caladium typically flower during the spring or early summer             in central Florida. Flowers develop about eleven weeks after             growth commences. Inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length: About 11 cm. Width, distal: About 3.6 cm.             Width, proximal: About 2.2 cm. Width, at constriction: About             1.5 cm. Shape: Ovate to somewhat obovate. Apex: Acuminate.             Base: Tapering. Margin: Entire; slightly reflexed. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Front             surface: Upper two-thirds: Close to 159D tinged with close             to 160D; color becoming closer to 199C to 199D with             development. Lower one-third: Close to 148B to 148C tinged             with close to 187A; color becoming closer to between 146B to             147B faintly mottled with close to 148C and faintly tinged             with close to 181D with development. Rear surface: Upper             two-thirds: Close to 160D tinged with close to 146D. Lower             one-third: Between 146B and 147B faintly mottled with close             to 148C and faintly tinged with close to 181D. Spadix:             Length, entire spadix: About 6.8 cm. Length, male flower             zone: About 5.5 cm. Length, sterile flower zone: About 9 mm.             Length, female flower zone: About 1.8 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 9 mm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 6 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 9 mm. Shape:             Spindle-shaped to columnar. Apex: Bluntly acute. Base:             Obtuse. Aspect: Upright. Color, mature, male zone: Close to             158C tinged with close to 145C. Color, mature, sterile zone:             Close to 158C tinged with close to 145C. Color, mature,             female zone: Close to 13D. Male flowers: Quantity per             spadix: About 120. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm.             Diameter: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 158C. Amount of             pollen: None observed. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix:             About 165. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Stigma color: Close to 13D. Ovary color: Close             to 155D. Scape: Length: About 20.5 cm. Diameter: About             5.5 mm. Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Erect. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous; glaucous. Color: Proximal: Close to N170D             tinged with close to 147A, densely streaked with close to             200C tinged with close to 147A and variably striped with             close to 200A. Distal: Close to N170D tinged with close to             between 183D and 182D, densely streaked with close to 200C             tinged with close to 147A and variably striped with close to             200A. Seed and fruit: Seed and fruit development have not             been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to be somewhat tolerant to Pythium root rot and Xanthomonas     leaf spot. Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed to be     resistant to pests or other pathogens common to Caladium. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 40°     C. 

1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Rosemary’ as illustrated and described. 